Assorting-table.



H. H. SHULTS.

ASSORTING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1910.

1,018,636. Patented Feb.27,1912.

SSHEEIS-SHEET 1.

H. H. SHULTS.

Assomme TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1910. 1,018,636, Patented Feb.27, 1912.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1910.

1,018,636, Patented Feb. 27', 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

HARRY I-I. SI-IULTS, OF CHERRY GREEK, NEW YORK.

ASSORTING-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Application filed August 12, 1910. Serial No. 576,833.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. Sri'ULTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cherry Creek, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Asso-rting- Tables, of which the following is a specificat1on.

The invention relates to an improvement in mail assorting tables comprehending specifically the construction of table sections adapted for interlocked assemblage to form tables of the various outlines used particularly for mail assorting purposes.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of table sections of differentoutlines in plan and including foldable leg supports, each section having removable edge guard strips, the foldable leg supports of one section being formed for interlocking with the similar supports of the adjacent section, whereby'through the interlocking of a plurality of appropriate sections. and the removal of obstructing edge guard flanges, a mail assorting table of any approved, appropriate outline may be formed which will, in effect-,provide a single table of substantial structure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such means for interlocking connection between the table sections as will provide for the convenient and speedy as semblage or disconnection of such sections with the minimum of time and labor.

The invention in its preferred details of construction will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the main table section. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the main sect-ion with the supporting legs folded. Fig. 4 is a broken elevation, partly in section, showing two quadrant sections connected to provide a semi-spherical sorting table. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of one of the quadrant sections with the parts in folded relation. Fig. '7 is an elevation showing a sorting table formed of one inain section' and 'two end or quadrant sections. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8'8 of, Fig. 7; Fig. 9

. is an enlarged broken elevation, partly in section, showing the type of connection for some of the supporting legs for the sections. Fig. 10'1s'an enlarged sectlonal view illustrating the connection between the table top of a sect-ion and the edge guard flange thereof.- Fig. 11 is a broken, sectional view illustrating a means of connecting the edges of two sections in table forming relation. Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating four main sections and four quadrant sections interlocked to form a skeleton rectangular sorting table of conventional type.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, the improved sorting table includes, in effect, a main section 1 and a quadrant section 2, it being of course understood that in making up the various types of tables, of conventional or any desired form, a suit able number of main sections and quadrant sections are to be used as will hereinafter appear.

The main table section 1 is preferably rec tangular in shape and comprises a sheet of metal of appropriate length and width constructed to form a table top 3. At appropriate points in the length of such top there may, if desired, be secured to the under side reinforcing ribs 4 made up of two right angle strips having their depending portions secured together by bolt-s or the M like and their horizontally alined portions riveted to the table top, as at 5.

As the main section is contemplated for use by itself or in conjunction with other sections, I provide said section with an edge flange forming a guard for the mail matter disposed on the table. The edge flange and connection is illustrated more particularly in Fig. 10, wherein a strip 6, of appropriate type, is secured to each edge of the main section through the medium of an angle strip 7 having its horizontal length 8 riveted at 9 to the under side of the main section and its depending or vertical portion 10 secured by a bolt 11 to that portion of the edge guard which depends below the table top 3. It is understood that each edge flange is of slightly less length than the edge with which it cooperates and, by the construction just described, that such edge flange is removably secured in place through the me dium of the bolts 11.

A folding leg support for the main seclZlOILlSjSBQHIQd to the under side thereof, and,

as will be evident from Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, is preferably, though not necessarily, constructed practically in its entirety of hollow pipe sections, whereby the desired strength is secured without extreme weight. One supporting frame of the main section includes uprights 13 terminally provided with feet 14 and connected adjacent said terminals by a cross bar 15 connected to the uprights by any preferred member, such for example as the usual T-coupling 16. The opposing terminals of the uprights 13 are connected to the under side of the table top by an interlocking hinge connection including a semi-spherical member 17 projecting from the plate riveted to the table top, and a second semi-spherical member 18 secured to and carrier by the upright, said members being mounted for movement upon a threaded pivot pin 19 adapted for manual manipulation, whereby the members may be locked in position to maintain the supporting frame at right angles to the table top or in folded relation thereto. The interlocking of the semi-spherical members is further provided for by forming one of said members with a projection 20 to seat in one or the other of two appropriately formed recesses in the opposing semi-spherical member, the cooperation of the rib with the particular recess and the drawing of the semi-spherical members together by the operation of the screw pivot locking the supporting frame rigidly in either operative or folded position. The opposing supporting frame comprises up rights 21 provided at their free terminals with feet 22 and connected adjacent such terminals by a cross bar 23, as shown. The table connected terminals of the uprights 21 are mounted for pivotal connection with the table through the construction illustrated particularly in Fig. 9, wherein spaced bracket plates 24 are riveted to the table and provided with depending socket members 25 adapted when in position to receive and support a rod-like bearing member 26. The adjacent terminals of the uprights 21 are provided with T-couplings 27, the horizontal members of which are mounted for free rotation in the bearing member 26, whereby the second supporting frame is mounted for swinging rotation with relation to the main section. As the latter frame is designed to underlie the first mentioned frame when the parts are in folded relation it will be obvious that an interlocking hinge connection for said underlying frame is not essential, though it is to be understood that its use is contemplated if desired. The underlying supporting frame of the main section is provided with an interlocking frame whereby the main section of the table may, in forming certain types of table, be interlocked with other sections. This interlocking frame comprises spaced parallel bars 28 which are pivotally mounted on the cross bar 23 of the supporting frame adjacent the connection of said cross bar with the uprights 21, as through T-coupling members 29. The free terminals of the bars 28, which will be hereinafter termed hooked bars, are provided with hooks 3O rigid with the bars and with cooperating hooks 31 to secure the connection as will hereinafter appear, said hook bars being braced adjacent their terminals with the cross bar 32.

In arranging the parts of the main section for the use of the latter as a sorting table the supporting frame, including the uprights 13, is turned down and the connection locked to hold the parts rigid, the underlying or second supporting frame is then turned down and the hooks 30 engage the cross bar 15 of the first mentioned section, the cooperating hooks 31 being swung down beneath such bar to prevent disconnection. The main section supporting parts are then arranged as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, forming a rigid table for the purpose designed, brace rods 33 being used if desired to secure a further connection.

The quadrant section includes an appropriately sized strip of sheet metal forming a table top 34 of quadrant shape, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The quadrant sec tion is also provided with removable dge guard flanges 35 connected in the manner described in the main section and as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings. The supporting leg frame for the quadrant section comprises a single frame including uprights 36 connected with the section 37 similar to that described for the main section. The free terminals of the uprights 36 are provided with feet 38 and connected adjacent the feet by a cross bar 39. The interlocking frame is mounted upon the cross bar 39 comprising spaced parallel bars 40 of an appropriate length rotatably connected to the cross bar 39 by T-couplings 41 and provided at their opposite or free terminals with hooks 42 and cooperating interlocking hooks, as previously described. Adjacent the connection of the bars 40 with the cross bar 39 said bars 40 are provided, as through the medium of a four-waycoupling 43, with what will be termed a tie bar 44, the ends of which project beyond the bars 4-0 and are capped to form in effect a reduced portion 45 for the reception of the hooks of a companion section in making up a table. The quadrant sect-ions may also, if desired, be provided with a bracing rib 46. The interlocking frame of the other quadrant section, forming the table parts with the main sec tion, has the interlocking rods spaced. apart a greater distance than the rods 40previously described, so thatthe hooksof the companion section will interlock with-the cross. bar 48 oining the rod 47' intermediate said rods. As previously described, the main section 1 of the table is adapted when desired for use as a sorting table without the addition of other parts. If, however, a sorting table of the type illustrated in Fig. 7, which is the accepted type of longitudinal sorting table, is to be used the guard edge flanges of the abutting edges of the main section 1 and quadrant sections 2 are removed, and the portion 10 of the angle strips 7 on the abutting edges of the main and quadrant sections are brought into contact and connected by the bolts 11, thereby providing a practically uninterrupted or continuous table top, as will be plain from Fig. 8. The various supporting frames of the respective sections are turned down into operative position, and the hooks of the interlocking frames of the respective quadrant sections are engaged wit-h the bars 28 of the interlocking frame of the main section, as illustrated in Fig. 8. There is thus provided a sorting table of the type shown in which the parts are so enlarged that, while readily separable when desired, they form a strong, substantial, practically integral structure.

In Fig. 12, I have illustrated diagrammatically a conventional type of sorting table in which four main sections and four quadrant sections provide a rectangular skeleton table open in the center to permit the use of a single table by a plurality of sorters. It will be obvious from this figure that the same is made up of two tables of the form illustrated in Fig. 8 and two additional main sections interposed bet-ween the end quadrant sections to form the desired outline. In connecting these parts, the edge guard flange of the quadrant section, adjacent the interposed main section and also the guard flange of the contacting edge of the latter are removed and the angle strips through the contacting edges connected as previously described iii-arranging the parts to form the table shown in Fig. 7. It is obvious that one of the interposed main sections may be removed, and a table of different type formed.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a semi-circular table in which two quadrant sections are connected. The edge guard flanges of the contacting sections are removed and the depending portions of the angle strips 7 through such contacting edges connected, as previously described. The support-ing frames of the respective quadrant sections are turned down and the interlocking frames of said quadrant sections connected through the use of their hook bars, as plainly shown in Fig. 5.

The salient feature of the present inven tion resides in- 'the provision of a plurality of sections which may be connected in a variety of ways to form sorting tables of different types, the connecting means being such that when so arranged the respective sections are interlocked to provide practically an integral structure having the edge guard flange through the exposed edge.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Amail sorting table including a main section, supporting frames movably mounted on the-under side of said section and adapted for folding, a free hinge connection joining one of said frames to the table top, and a lock hinge connection joining the other of said frames to the table top, the lock hinge connected frame overlying the free hinge connected frame when the parts are folded to secure said parts in folded relation.

2. A mail sorting table including a main section, supporting frames movably mounted on the under side of said section and adapted for folding, a free hinge connection joining one of said frames to the table top, a lock hinge connection joining the other of said frames to the table top, the lock hinge connected frame overlying the free hinge connected frame when the parts are folded to secure said parts in folded relation, and means carried by the free hinge connected frame to interlock with, the lock hinge connected frame when said frames are in operative position.

3. A mail sorting table including a main section and a plurality of quadrant sections, supporting frames for the main section, a single supporting frame for each quadrant section, and means carried by the supporting frame of each quadrant section to interlock with the supporting frames of the main section when said sections are assembled in table forming relation.

4. A mail sorting section of quadrant shape, a supporting frame movably con nected to said section, and an interlocking frame carried by the supporting frame, whereby to connect said section with the cooperating section in forming a table.

A mail sorting table section of quadrant shape, a supporting frame movably connected thereto, and an interlocking frame carried by the supporting frame and comprising spaced parallel bars terminally provided with hooks and movably mounted on the supporting frame.

6. A mail sorting table section of quadrant shape, a supporting frame movably connected thereto, an interlocking frame carried by the supporting frame and comprising spaced parallel bars terminally provided with hooks and movably mounted on the supporting frame, and a cross bar carried by the interlocking bars to receive the hook terminals of the interlocking bars of an adjacent section.

7. A metallic sorting table comprising a 10 locking, the supporting frames of one section With the supporting frames of the adjacent section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY H. SHULTS.

Witnesses:

FRED B. HOLCOMB, Gr. WAYNE LAPHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

